A 1970s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Joby since 1939
Babies named Joby per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 5 |
| 1940s | 0 | 15 |
| 1950s | 11 | 63 |
| 1960s | 22 | 168 |
| 1970s | 35 | 288 |
| 1980s | 0 | 171 |
| 1990s | 0 | 188 |
| 2000s | 0 | 139 |
| 2010s | 0 | 104 |
| 2020s | 0 | 33 |
Meaning & origin
Joby is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1939. It reached its peak popularity in 1976, but has never appeared in the national top 1000 rankings. The name has been rising in use since 2020, though absolute numbers remain very small. It saw a modest revival during the 1970s, which may reflect the era's interest in casual, nicknamed forms like Toby and Cody. No top states for usage are recorded, indicating its distribution is extremely scattered. Its meaning is closely tied to the biblical Job, making it a distinctive choice for those seeking an underused name with religious heritage.
Joby is generally considered a diminutive or pet form of the biblical name Job, derived from the Hebrew Iyyov, meaning 'persecuted' or perhaps 'where is my father?' in some interpretations. The name Job appears in the Old Testament as a righteous man who endured great suffering. Joby has been used as an independent given name in English-speaking countries since at least the early 20th century, though it remains relatively uncommon.
Sibling names for Joby
Names that share Joby's style, for a brother or sister.
